Centrifugal concentrator.



Patented June 10, 1913.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

P. 0. WELS.

GENTBIFUGAL GONGENTRATOB.

APPLICATION IILBD SEPT.16,1911. 1,064,184.

P. 0. WELS.

OENTRIFUGAL GONGBNTRATOR.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 16, 1911.

4 1 4 Patented June 10, 1913.

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P. O. WELS. GBNTEIFUGAL GONOENTRATOR.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT.16, 1911.

1,064,184, Patented June 10,1913.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

- 5) W02 VLCQL': aww= 819mb mwm.

{Maia P. 0. WELS.

GENTBIFUGAL GONCENTRATOB.

APPLIOATION FILED SEPT. 16,1911.

Patented June 10,1913.

4 SEEETl-SHEET 4.

M F t CENTRIFUGAL GONCENTRATOR.

Specification of Letters Intent.

PatentedJune 10, 1913.

Application filed September 516, 1911.. SerialHo. 649571 1.

To (:25 whom it may concern.

Be it lmown that I, PAUL 0 Wm, a citizen of the United States, residing at Los Angeles, in the county of Los Angeles and State of California, have invented new and useful Improvements in Centrifugal Concentrators, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to centrifugal concentrators, and the object of the invention is to concentrate finely crushed ores or slimes; to provide means in centrifugal concentrating machinw for separating an enriched and an impoverished product from the ore, and for imparting definite motion of the concentrates toward one end of the machine while the tailings are carried to the other, so that they can be separately discharged; to provide means for washing the concentrates with clear water before they are discharged; and to provide a concentrating machine which will carry on the process of concentration continuously.

Other objects and advantages will be brought out in the following description of the machine.

In these specifications, the machine is presented in two embodiments which are associated and identified in objects and principles. I

Referring to the drawings: Figure l is a sectional vertical view through one form of the machine, a part of the drum being in elevation. Fig. 2 isa plan View of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a section on line w a2 Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a vertical section through another form of the machine. Fig. 5 is a Vertical section through a portion of the outer casing and inner drum, showing one form of combination of the rifles and ribs. Fig. 6 is a View similar to Fig. 5, showing another form of combination of rifles and ribs. Fig. 7 is a view similar to Fig. 5, showing another form of combination of rifles and ribs. Fig. 8 is a vertical sectional view through a portion of the outer shel' showing the inner drum in elevation, and i lustrating parallel rifles and parallel ribs. Fig. 9 is an elevaw tion of a portion of the inner drum detached. Fig. 10 is a verticalsectional view; through a portion of the outer casingand the inner drum, showing the absence of the form of ribshown in Fig. 7. Fig. 13

1s a plan. View of a part of the conveyer blades of Fig. 10, showing one form of erforations. Fig. 14 is a similar view to ig. 13, showing perforations-around the edges of the ribs in conjunction with other perforations.

l designates a casing, provided with a hub '2 which is rigidly secured to a shaft 3. The upper end of the-casing 1 has a rim 4 which extends over an annular launder 5, the bottom of which is constructed with a slight pitch, to cause the discharge of the contents fromthe lowest point thereof.

6 designates a frame which is fastened at its lower end to a bed plate 7 having a bearing 8 in which the lower end of the shaft 3 is mounted to rotate, while the upper portion of the frame 6 is provided with a bearing 9 in which the upper end of the shaft 3 is mounted.

The casing 1 is provided on its inner surface with a spiral rifle or rifles 10, which co-act with other arts of the apparatus to be described, to e ect the separation of the concentrates and the tailings and to effect the definite movements of the concentrates between the rifles to their points of discharge. By the word rifle, I not only mean a rectangular projection as shown in the drawings, but any corrugations that produce spiral ofi'sets, the intent being to produce a spirally grooved surface. Various modificationsof the rifled surface of the casing 1 are shown in Figs. 1 and 5 to 8, and they will be more fully described later. The casing 1 has an annular crowned por: tion 12, over which a belt may be run to impart rotation to the casing.

Within the casin 1 is a rotatable drum 13 on the outer wal of which are ribs 11 which, by their joint action. with the rifles 10 on the casing produce the efiects described above. The relations of the ribs 11 are further illustrated in Figs. 5 to 9, 11'

and 12. They may be continuous spiral, or

vertical blades, or they may be interrupted blades, and will be further described later, the intent being to provide means on the inner drum to co-actwith the ritiles on the casing in efiecting the separation of the concentrates and the tailings, and the movihg of the concentrates.

The drum 13 has a partition 14 with an elongated hub 15 which is rotatable on the shaft 3. Theupper portion of the drum 13 extends above the casing 1 and has a peripheral crowned portion 17 over which a belt may be run to rotate the drum 13. At its upper end, the drum has an annular opening 18 through which a pipe 19 PIOJGClSS for delivering the feed to the machine.

Above the partition 14 the drum 13 has a series of openings 16 through which the feed of ore with water flows out, assisted by centrifugal force, into the channels 20 surrounding the drum. The flow of the currentof the feed and the tailings is upward through the vertical and the spiral channels, both numbered 20 in the upper section of the machine, until it overflows at the tailings discharge 4. The lower section of the drum 13 commencing at the partition 14, is of larger diameter than the upper section, making the depth of the riiiles 10 and the ribs 11, shallower in the lower portion than in the upper, and making the area of the channels 28 smaller than that of the channels 20. This is done in order to maintain the necessary velocity of current in the channels 28 for washing the concentrates, while using a suitable quantity of wash water.

The lower portion of the shaft 3 has a passage 21 which at the lower end communicates with a pipe 22 through which wash water is introduced, and the. shaft is provided with a plurality of transverse passages 23 near the upper end of the passage 21, which communicates with passages 24 formed in a ring 25 which rotates with the shaft3. Other passages 26 in the shaft 3 also communicate between the pipe 22 and the lower space of the drum 13. The wash water is thus supplied to the lower part of the machine and passes into the channels 28 between the drum and the casing. The lower part of the casing 1 is provided with several outlets 27 for the discharge of the concentrates which discharge into a variable depth launder 29 that surrounds the bottom of the casing 1.

Referring to the details of the riffies 10, they may consist of one continuous riflie passing spirallyover the inner surface of the casing 1, or they may be a seriesof parallel rifiles. One modification of the rilile form is illustrated in Fig. 1 and a two riflie form of the parallel series is shown in Fig. 8. They may be inclined at any desired pitch to the horizontal, different pitches being illustrated in the detail figures. These rifllcs 10 may be formed either directly onthe casing 1, as shown in the detail Figs. 5 to 8, or on a lining 30, as shown in Fig. 1. The lining 30 may be of cast iron, sheet metal, etc. The ribs 11 on the inner drum may be inclined at any desired angle with the rifiles 10 on the casing, the ribs pitching either in the same direction as the ritlles on the casing, as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 6, or pitching in the'contrary direction as illustrated in Fig. 5, or they may be vertical blades as illustrated in Fi 7 and 12, or interrupted circumferential blades or rakes set at any angle, one instance of which is shown in plan view in Fig. 11. The object of these detailed illustrations is to show some of the numerous modifications of projections 11 on the drum, which may beused to co-act with the riflies 10.

Referring to Fig. 4, the distinguishing feature of this form of the invention is that the )rincipal functions of both the riffies 10 on the casing as described for Fig. 1, and of the ribs or blades 11, Fig. 1, are in the form shown in Fig. 4, performed by the screw conveyer 11' which is provided on the outer surface of the drum 13, and which will be described in detail later. The machine is shown with its shaft 3 mounted at its upper end in a bearing 9 and at its lower end in a bearing 8'. An elongated rotatable hub 15 is provided for the drum 13, and is mounted on the shaft 3 as in the previous form, and the casing 1 is likewise keyed onto the shaft. Wash water is similarly introduced through the pipe 22 and its communicating channels 21', 23, 24, and 26, into the interior of the machine, and into its washing channels 28. The drum 13 has, as before, two sections of different diameters above and below the partition 14. There is a sprocket wheel 17 near the upper end of the hub 15, over which a chain may be run to impart rotation to the drum, and there is a crowned portion 12 for a belt to impart rotation to the casing. Over the upper end of the drum 13' is a stationary headpiece 40 with which the upper end of the drum 13' has a watertight fit, and within which it revolves. The headpiece 40 is fastened to the frame 6. The feedpipe 19 having a watertight fit within the headpiece 40 enables the feed to be introduced under greater pressure than is illustrated in Fig. 1. From the interior of the drum 13, the feed enters the concentrating channels 20 between the drum 13 and the casing 1, through the slotted opening 16. The bottom of the easing 1 is provided with an enlarged space 41 in which several blades 42 revolve to stir up and assist the concentrates to the discharge openings 27 which are here shown to lice-tide;

tion of the machine. On the upper rim 4 of the casing there is a remova le plate or ring 46 which projects over the inner surface of the casing 1, overlapping the edges of the ribs of the conveyer 11. The object of the ring 46-is to form a retaining means for the bedof ore that is held on the casing by centrifugal force. A flange 47 is attached to the upper portion of the drum 13', and overlaps the plate 46. A screw thread 48 is formed on the drum 13' and flange 47 is threaded toturn on the threads 48. Four blocks or keys 49 are set at 90 from one another, in key seatsprovided inthe flange, and are tightened to the drum with the set screws 50. It is adjustable vertically and by means of it the distance between the plate 46 and the flange 4.7 may be regulated. Launders 5' and 29 are provided as in the previous instance. The ribs of the screw conveyer 11 have openings or perforations through the plates in order to permit the current of water and tailings to flow di-- rectly upward as well as around the spiral channels between the casing and the drum. The perforations may be of any form. Fig. 13 shows one form of perforations throu h the plates 11', and Fig. 1 1 the same wi notches around the edges thereof. The conveyer ribs 11' make numerous turns around the drum 13 and are narrower in the lower or washing section of the machine than in the upper section.

Both forms of the machine operate substantially' the same. In the embodiment shown in Fig. 1, a rapid rotation is imparted to the casing 1 and to the drum 13, with a differential speed, both rotating in the same direction. The drum may rotate sloweror faster than the casing, and the direction of rotation depends upon whether a ri ht or left handed thread is used forzthe ri es on the casing. The wash water is turned on, proceeding through the pipe 22 and its communicating passages into the interior of the machine, and the feed of finely crushed ore with water, is introduced through the pipe 19 into the drum 13, thence passing, assisted by centrifugal force, 1 through openings 16 into the upper concentrating portion of the machine between the drum 13 and the casing 1. The feed progresses through the spaces or channels that exist between the casing and the drum and their projections, until the tailings overflow and escape at the upper end of the casing.

The machine is made to rotate at such speed that the heavier mineral seeks to ad- 4 here" to the casing, but the speed is such that the tendency to adhere can be overcome'by the; casing ror I remain:

fig

:The-7-lighteii1minera1s' fore lightly against 'gs'us'pensioni' i' the waterii Theme-action? of the "riflies l on the surface of the casing. with the ribs on the surface of the drum, cause an agitating and scouring ac ion which. separates the tailings from the concentrates, permitting the curmade-scribed 51ml an e r he rents of water to carry the tailings to their discharge and causing the concentrates to move down the casing between the riiflesthereon, to the concentrates discharges. The water acquires rotation with the machine and due to the centrifugal force "also an additional tendency to escape or overflow from the machine. The riflies on the casing and the ribs on the drum co-act to alter the speed of rotation of the water, and to cause the agitating and scouring action on the of the casing toward the concentrate outlets;

When the drum rotates slower than the casing, the ribs or blades on its outer surface cause a lag of the Water at the'casing which effects the above separation and movement, and a similar efl'ect may be produced by revolving the drum faster than the casing in which case there is an'acceleration of the water at the casing instead of the lag. As the concentrates descend, they come to the narrower channels surrounding the greater diameter of the drum in which the washing or further cleansing of the concentrates is effected with clear water. The co-action of the riflies and the blades, is similar here to that in the upper section, to separate the lighter material and to move the concentrates downward. The concentrates pass out throu h several discharges and the tailings overow into their respective launders; v

In the second form shown inv Fig. 4, the casing and the inner drum also revolve differentially in the same direction but the drum is the shaft of the conveyer. In the previous form, the spiral means for carrying the concentrates were on the casing, where as in the second form the casing is a retaining surface for the screw on the drum. In this form having a left hand screw on the conveyer or drum, the conveyer revolves slightly faster than the casing and both revolve clockwise looking down the machine Fig.4. Essentially, the operationiand the effects produced by the second form of the centrifugal concentrator are the same as those for. the form previously described. The wash water is introduced as already described. The feed passes through the pipe into the stationary head of the drurn'then'ce that the currents may carry them to the tailings discharge, while the conveyer, carries the concentrates to their respective discharge. The wash water channel is constricted for the same reasons as given for the first form and the method of using the Wash water is the same. The ring over the casing assists in maintaining the aforesaid layer of ore on the casing and the overflow can be regulated by raising or lowering the flange on the drum. The stirrers agitate the concentrates in the enlarged part of the bottom of the casing, assisting them to the discharge spigots. The ultimate effects of the introduction of the feed intermediately between the ends of the machine into the concentrating channels, the agitation of the ore and its separation, the carrying off of the tailings, the conveying of the concentrates, and the washin of the concentrates in. the specially provid ed channels, are the same in both forms of the machine.

What I claim is 1. In a centrifugal concentrator, a revoluble casing, a revoluble drum within the cas ing, means for introducing feed into the space between the drum and casing, means for introducing wash water into the space between the drum and casing, and means between the drum and casing for causing movement of the concentrates 1n a direction opposite to that of the tailings.

2. In .a concentrator, an outerrevoluble casing, means for introducing feed into said casing at the inner Wall thereof, spiral means within the casing for causing a progression of the concentrates away from the tailings by the relative movement between the spiral means and concentrates said spiral means having perforations and recesses on the edges thereof.

3. In a concentrator, a revoluble casing, spiral riifies on the inner Wall of the casing, a revoluble drum within the casing, projections on said drum, means for introducing feed into the space between the drum and casing, and means for introducing wash water into the space between the drum and casing.

4. n a concentrator, a revoluble casing, spiral rifiies on the inner wall of the casing, a revoluble drum within the casing, spiral ribs on said drum, and means for introducing feed into the space between the drum and easing.

5. In a concentrator, a revoluble casing,

spiral rifiies on the innen-wall of the casing a revoluble drumwithin the casing, spiral ribs on said drum, said spiral ribs havin perforations, and means for introducing feed into the space between the drum and casing.

6. In a concentrator, an outer revoluble casing, a revoluble drum within the casing, the outer wall of said drum having two diameters, thereby forming a feed concentrating channel and a concentrate cleansing channel of less width than and leading to the feed concentrating channel, projections on said drum, and means on the inner wall of the casing for co-acting with said projections on the drum to move the concentrates and tailings in opposite directions.

-7. In a concentrator, a revoluble casing, a

revoluble drum within the casing, means-for introducing feed into the space between the drum and easing at a point intermediate the ends thereof, projections on the drum and means on the inner Wall of the casing for coacting with said projections to move the concentrates and tailings in opposite directions.

8. In a concentrator, an outer revoluble casing, a revoluble drum within the casing, said drum being hollow and having orifices through its side walls, projections on the outer face of the drum, said projections having perforations and recesses on the edge thereof, means on the inner wall of the casing for co-acting with said projections, and means for introducing feed into the interior of said drum.

9. In a concentrator, a revoluble casing, a revoluble drum within the casing, means for introducing feed into the space between the drum and casin at a point intermediate the ends thereo projections on the drum and means on the inner wall of the casing for co-acting with said projections to move the concentrates and tailings in opposite directions, and means for introducing wash water into the space between the drum and easing, below the said intermediate point.

10. In a concentrator, an outer revoluble casing, a revoluble drum within said casing forming a feed channel .and a wash water channel of difierent widths communicating with each other, means for introducing feed into the feed channel and means fer passin wash water through the wash water channe and delivering it to the feed channel, the feed channel having a discharge opening at one end of the concentrator, and the washing channel having a discharge opening at the In testimony whereof I have hereunto set other end of the concentrator. my hand at Los Angeles, California, this 10 12. In a concentrator, a revoluble casing, 8th day of September, 1911.

a revoluble drum Withinthe casing, spiral ribs on said drum, said spiral ribs having PAUL OSCAR WELS' perforations and recesses on the edges there- In presence of of, and means for introducing feed into the G. T. HAGKLEY,

space between the drum and casing. GLADYS RUSSELL. 

